Alger County

Here are key demographics for Alger County, Michigan. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 ACS 5-year estimates).

Population

• Total population (2020): 8,842

Age

• Median age: ~48 years
• Under 18: ~16%
• 18–64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Male: ~55%
• Female: ~45%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~84–85%
• Black or African American alone: ~8–9%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~4–5%
• Asian alone: ~0.5%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~82%

Households

• Number of households: ~3,700–3,800
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~60%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Households with children under 18: ~22%

• County snapshot: Alger County, MI has about 8,900 residents and very low density (~10 people per square mile), with widely dispersed rural households.

• Estimated email users: 6,300–7,000 residents use email regularly. This assumes roughly 85–90% adoption among teens/adults, slightly below national averages due to older age mix and rural access gaps.

• Age distribution and use:

  • Population skews older (about one-quarter age 65+; ~20% under 18).
  • Estimated email adoption by age: 18–29 ≈95–98%; 30–49 ≈95%; 50–64 ≈90%; 65+ ≈75–85%. The larger 65+ share pulls overall use down modestly.

• Gender split: Population leans male (approximately 55% male, 45% female, influenced by a state correctional facility). Email usage shows little gender gap; users likely split close to evenly.

• Digital access trends:

  • About 70% of households subscribe to fixed broadband; 10–15% are mobile-only.
  • Connectivity is strongest in and near towns; remote areas have patchier high-speed (100/20+ or fiber) options.
  • Public libraries and schools serve as key access points.
  • Ongoing state/federal investments are expanding fiber and fixed wireless; adoption is rising year over year, though affordability and coverage remain challenges in the most rural areas.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Alger County, Michigan (Upper Peninsula)

Context

• Small, highly rural county centered on Munising and Grand Marais, with extensive forest and Lake Superior shoreline. Year-round population is about 9,000, but summer tourism at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore drives large seasonal surges in device presence and traffic.

Resident user estimates (method shown for transparency)

• Adult population estimate: ~7,000–7,400 (roughly 78–82% of total residents; rural counties in MI skew older).
• Smartphone adoption among adults in rural/older areas: ~75–82% (lower than MI statewide averages due to age and income mix).
• Teen users (13–17): small base, high adoption (~90%+).
• Estimated resident smartphone users: approximately 5,800–6,600.
• Seasonal overlay: On peak summer days, an additional several thousand visitor devices are active near Munising, along M-28 and H-58, and at Pictured Rocks trailheads/overlooks—often exceeding local resident device counts during midday.
• Note: The county hosts a state correctional facility (non-consumer users), which means “addressable” civilian users are somewhat fewer than raw population suggests.

How usage differs from Michigan statewide

• Adoption level: Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption than the state average, driven primarily by a higher share of adults 55+ and 65+.
• Mobile-only internet: Higher share of households relying on phones as their primary internet (due to limited or costly home broadband outside towns) than the state average.
• Prepaid and Android skew: Greater use of prepaid plans and a stronger Android share than statewide, reflecting income and retail availability patterns common in the UP.
• Coverage-dependent behavior: More reliance on Wi‑Fi calling, offline maps, asynchronous messaging, and SMS in low-signal areas; residents often keep multiple SIMs or carrier hotspots as backups—behaviors less common downstate.
• Seasonality: Unlike most MI counties, summer tourism materially changes network load patterns (midday congestion, evening relief), with noticeable slowdowns around Munising and Pictured Rocks access points.

Demographic breakdown (implications for mobile use)

• Age: Older median age than Michigan overall; seniors have lower smartphone adoption and are more voice/SMS-centric. Caregiver and telehealth use is growing but constrained by coverage.
• Income: Lower median household income than the state; cost sensitivity leads to prepaid, smaller data buckets, and hotspot substitution for home broadband.
• Education and occupations: Tourism, forestry, services, and public sector work drive shift-based usage and high weekend/holiday traffic. Seasonal workers add transient device counts.
• Population mix: Predominantly White non-Hispanic compared with the state; linguistic diversity and urban app ecosystems are less prominent drivers of usage than downstate metros.

Digital infrastructure and coverage patterns

• Macro coverage
  • 4G LTE is reliable in towns (Munising, Chatham) and along primary corridors (M-28, M-94, sections of H-58 and M-77). Forested interiors and lakeshore bluffs create dead zones, especially along H-58 east of Munising and in backcountry areas of Pictured Rocks.
  • 5G presence is mostly low-band “coverage” layers along highways and in towns; mid-band 5G capacity is limited and spotty; mmWave is not present.
  • Carrier balance differs from state: Verizon generally has the most consistent rural footprint; AT&T is competitive in towns and on main routes; T‑Mobile’s low‑band 5G extends along corridors but indoor/rural depth is less consistent than downstate.
• Capacity and backhaul
  • Cell sites cluster along M-28/M-94 and near Munising; long stretches have few sites, reducing redundancy.
  • Fiber backhaul is available on primary routes via regional networks; outside those corridors, microwave backhaul and longer fiber laterals limit capacity upgrades compared with metro Michigan.
• Public and community access
  • Public Wi‑Fi is concentrated in libraries, schools, and a handful of businesses in Munising; very limited elsewhere, increasing mobile data dependence.
  • Fixed broadband outside towns is a mix of older DSL, some cable/FTTH pockets, fixed wireless, and notable satellite uptake (Starlink and others) that is higher than the state norm; many households still lean on phone hotspots.
• Emergencies and outdoors
  • Trailheads and shoreline overlooks have variable to no mobile service; residents and visitors often plan for offline navigation and delayed communications.
  • Along the lakeshore, terrain and foliage cause abrupt signal drop-offs unusual for lower-peninsula counties.

Key takeaways versus Michigan overall

• Lower baseline adoption, higher mobile-only reliance, and more prepaid usage than the state average.
• Carrier market dynamics favor broader-coverage networks more strongly than downstate metros.
• 5G is present but offers less mid-band capacity uplift than in Michigan’s cities; real-world speeds often hinge on LTE fallback.
• Seasonal tourism uniquely drives congestion and coverage complaints—network experience varies far more by month and location than typical Michigan counties.
• Satellite and fixed wireless fill gaps more frequently than elsewhere in the state; many households blend these with mobile hotspots.

Estimation notes and sources used for triangulation

• Population and age structure: recent Census/ACS profiles for Alger County (older median age than MI).
• Adoption baselines: national/state smartphone adoption from Pew and rural-vs-urban differentials applied to local age mix.
• Coverage/backhaul: FCC carrier maps, carrier public coverage disclosures, and known UP fiber/backhaul corridors; localized knowledge of highway routes (M-28, M-94, H-58, M-77) and Pictured Rocks geography.
• Tourism effects: National Park visitation reports indicating high seasonal visitation to Pictured Rocks.

Below is a concise, modeled snapshot of social media usage in Alger County, Michigan. Because county-level platform data isn’t directly published, figures are estimates based on the 2020 Census population (~8.9k), exclusion of the incarcerated population, rural broadband adoption, and U.S./Michigan usage patterns adjusted for older/rural demographics.

Overall usage

• Estimated monthly active social media users (residents): 5,600–6,100 (about 80–85% of residents age 13+ excluding incarcerated population)
• Internet access context: rural/UP profile suggests slightly lower adoption than state average; smartphone-first usage is common

Age mix (share of local active users)

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–29: 18–22%
• 30–49: 32–36% (largest cohort)
• 50–64: 22–26%
• 65+: 14–18%

Gender breakdown (of active users)

• Female: 52–56%
• Male: 44–48% Note: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit.

Most-used platforms (share of local active users, monthly)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–78%
• Instagram: 32–38%
• TikTok: 25–32%
• Pinterest: 28–34% (strong among women 25–54)
• Snapchat: 22–28% (skews 13–29)
• X/Twitter: 10–15% (news, weather, sports)
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (lower due to industry mix)
• Reddit/Discord: 8–14% (niche: gaming, outdoors, tech)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook as the community hub: heavy use of Groups (buy/sell/trade, school and youth sports, events, road/snow/utility updates) and Marketplace. Messenger is the default local DM.
• Seasonal content spikes: summer tourism (Pictured Rocks) drives photo/video sharing on Facebook/Instagram and short-form on TikTok; winter spikes for snowmobile trail conditions, closures, and storm info.
• Visual storytelling: Instagram Reels and TikTok feature scenic/outdoor themes (hiking, waterfalls, ice formations, fall color). Local businesses lean on Reels for reach.
• Utility-first YouTube: how-tos, hunting/fishing, trail grooming updates, local sports streams, and gear reviews.
• Youth patterns: Snapchat for daily communication; TikTok for trends and local service-work culture. Instagram used for identity/community plus event highlights.
• Shopping discovery: Facebook Groups/Marketplace for local deals; Pinterest for recipes, crafts, cabin/home ideas; Instagram for boutiques, cafes, and seasonal offerings.
• Information sources: MDOT/NOAA/local agencies via Facebook and X during storms, road closures, and safety alerts.
• Posting times: engagement peaks evenings and weekends; weather events and major community happenings create sharp, short-lived spikes.

Notes on methodology and limits

• Estimates reflect residents (not visitors/seasonal workers) and exclude the incarcerated population, which materially affects this county’s demographics.
• Percentages are modeled from Pew/industry norms, Michigan/rural adjustments, and local context; exact platform counts at county level are not publicly available.